Tomato prices across Nigeria have dropped sharply by 58% as the new harvest season begins, offering much-needed relief to families who have struggled with soaring food costs in recent months.
The price of a big basket of tomatoes, which skyrocketed to as much as N120,000 earlier in the year, has now fallen to N50,000 in Lagos’ Mile 12 Market.
Other regions are seeing similar declines, with prices ranging from N45,000 to N75,000 in major markets like Onitsha, Wuse, and Dei Dei in Abuja.
The dramatic drop in prices is attributed to the commencement of the tomato harvest and a temporary break in the July/August rains.
Sani Danladi, the national chairman of the Association of Tomato Growers, Processors, and Marketers of Nigeria, explained that the influx of freshly harvested tomatoes, along with the rain pause, has led to an oversupply in the markets, pushing prices down.
“Farmers who planted earlier in the year are now reaping their crops, which has flooded the market with tomatoes,” Danladi said. “This, combined with the break in the rains, is why prices are falling.”
The price of Habanero peppers has also seen a significant decrease, dropping 63% from N35,000 at the height of the surge to N13,000 for a small basket.
Experts believe that the combination of harvest season and the rain break has contributed to this trend, with more produce making its way to the markets.
For many Nigerian families, the fall in tomato prices is a welcome change. Over the past year, the cost of food has soared, with over 40% inflation hitting households hard.
Many were forced to switch to alternatives like beets, cucumbers, and carrots to prepare their meals, especially staples like jollof rice.
Folake Aturamu, a primary school teacher in Ogun State, expressed her relief at the price drop. “I recently bought N2,000 worth of tomatoes, and it was a lot more than I usually get,” she said. “I could cook my stew without needing to add anything else to increase the quantity.”
Tomato production in Nigeria, Africa’s largest grower of the fruit, has been hampered by various challenges, including post-harvest losses and the devastating effects of Tuta absoluta, known as Tomato Ebola, which regularly ravages farms in the North.
Despite these challenges, the current harvest season is offering a brief respite for consumers.
Economist Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, cautioned that while the ongoing harvest has reduced prices, market dynamics could cause them to rise again once the harvest season concludes and normal business activities resume.
However, Danladi remains optimistic, predicting further price drops in the coming months as the harvest continues.
For now, the significant reduction in tomato and pepper prices is providing much-needed relief to millions of Nigerians, who can once again enjoy their meals without breaking the bank.
